Grade-school students exposed to health sciences

For most students, a new school year typically means a fresh stack of homework assignments and quizzes. For seventh- and eighth-graders at Annunciation Catholic School, it means something more: a chance to delve deeper into the realm of health science.

After a successful year under its belt, the school will continue with the Center for Health Science program introduced last fall. The two-year program, designed for seventh- and eighth-graders, gives them hands-on opportunities to receive health certifications, prepare research projects and explore possible health careers.

Leslie Zielinski, science teacher for grades six through eight, leads the curriculum with help from the school nurse at Annunciation, Deborah Kampff, and technology teacher, Robin Bartnik. Zielinski hopes the program will continue to prompt students to become aware of career opportunities in the field.

“When students think of health science, they think of nurses and doctors, but there’s much more,” she said. “We’re hoping to spark some interest in health science because it’s a field that’s growing in Western New York.”

As part of last year’s curriculum, students covered first aid, health careers, drug awareness and research. Field trips ranging from Buffalo General Hospital to Mercy Flight, as well as frequent guest speakers, were incorporated into Zielinski’s teaching methods.

“I had parents coming up to me and telling me their kids were talking about the field trips at home,” she said. “When a 12-year-old goes home and talks about school, you know that they had a good time and learned something.”

For the second portion of the program, the focus will be on nutrition, forensics, self-esteem and research, said Sister Marilyn Ann Dudek, principal. Students may have the opportunity to visit a medical school campus, as well as a Tops or Wegmans supermarket.

Dudek also mentioned the possibility of visiting a coroner when students move on to forensics.

“I think it’s exciting that we can do something for the students beyond what the normal health science curriculum would be,” she said.

In addition, students who received health certifications at the beginning of the program will become re-certified in first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED).

Funding for the program primarily was provided through health sponsorships with Independent Health, Upstate New York Transplant Services, Catholic Health and Kaleida Health. This year, two more sponsors are on board: Southtowns Radiology and Bishop Timon St. Jude High School.

“There’s a big initiative in this country to get students more involved in science education, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Tom Sullivan, principal of Bishop Timon.

“We’re trying to reach out to students at an early level,” he said.

According to Sullivan, students who continue to be interested in health science can look into applying at Bishop Timon or Mount Mercy Academy once they’ve graduated from Annunciation Catholic School. The program is a good way to engage the children and help them understand different aspects of the field, he added.

Michele Mehaffy, director of marketing and communications for Unyts, agrees with Sullivan that the health science component at Annunciation shows the younger generation how interesting it can be.

According to Mehaffy, the program also highlights the importance of regular blood and organ donation, which is a goal of her organization.

The health science program is unique to Western New York and helps illustrate the growing number of job opportunities in the field.

“I’m excited about bringing the real world into the classroom,” Zielinski said.

“This program lets students see the things they are learning about actually are being used in the outside world. And I hope it gets them to open their eyes to the different opportunities around them.”